Tag Archives: Zimbabwe

There are ways to deal with losing an election in civilized nations including improving one’s ideas and relationships with people, but in Mugabeland that is not a viable procedure. His government has uncovered a unique approach to regaining power in Parliament– arrest opposition members on crazy charges. A few days ago, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai, was arrested for stealing a cell phone from someone with whom he was having lunch. But, today’s arrest ushers in a new and dramatic manner of getting rid of people you don’t like. Get them on the music charge. Stewart Garadhi, an MP for the MDC, was driving along listening to music and he played a song that was popular among members of the MDC.

Mr. Garadhi now faces charges that he played a song that denigrated the illustrious leader of Zimbabwe, the Supreme Honcho, Robert Mugabe. According to Nelson Chamiri the song being played was “Nharembozha” which pokes fun at Mugabe.

Oh, well, I am certain the Zimbabwe police now have a special unit whose task is to find crimes they can charge members of the MDC with and throw them into prison.

The government of Head Thug, Robert Mugabe, never ceases to amaze in its ability to conceive of new ways of justifying the arrest of innocent men and women. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is attempting to focus on restoring the economy of Zimbabwe which was destroyed under the incompetent leadership of Mugabe. During the past few months several members of Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change(MDC) have been arrested on one silly charge after another. Thamsanqa Mahlangu, a deputy minister and a leader in the MDC was charged with theft by the corrupt Zimbabwe police. He is charged with attending a meeting dealing with the topic of a “National Shared Vision” with a Mugabe friend, Joseph Chinotimba, when the MDC leader got the bright idea to steal the cell phone of the man sitting next to him.

Perhaps, the African Union can award a prize to Mugabe for his ability to concoct the most fascinating ideas on justifying arresting those who disagree with your corrupt rule. Of course, in Mugabeland, the only people allowed to steal are his followers.

In Mugabeland, the rule of law means each and every individual obeys the dictates of the One and only Ruler, his royal highness, the good Lord of Violence, Robert Mugabe. Tendai Biti might be Finance Minister of Zimbabwe, but he belongs to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change which means, by definition, his fate is destined to be a short one. Mr. Biti received a letter and a bullet delivered at his home, no doubt by one of the loyal thug stooges of Mugabe. The note in Shona said simply, “prepare your will” which was a message informing the Finance Minister that the president of the nation did not either like what he was saying or doing. Mr. Biti responded by saying, “violence is the language of the intellectually defeated. I am undeterred.”

Mr. Biti, for some strange reason, turned the evidence over to the police. That is the equivalent of turning over drugs to a Mexican drug lord for safe keeping. Most probably, the crime of Mr. Biti was to send inflation downward from its height of 2,300,000%. In Mugabeland, the grand wizard is the only one who accomplishes anything.

If anyone has a mental illness it might well be helpful to get the nearest airplane headed to Zimbabwe and spend a few weeks in Mugabeland. Robert Mugabe, the Wizard of Madness, rules the land by ensuring he always wins elections, particularly those in which he received fewer votes than his opponent. In Mugabeland, one is always happy and wealthy by accepting anything the Wizard does must be correct because since he is the all-knowing and wise wizard, he can not commit wrong. Mugabe lost the last presidential election and the Movement for Democratic Change’s candidate not only had more votes but the MDC gained a majority in parliament. No problem for the Wizard, just create crimes that MDC MPs never committed, charge them with being criminals and eject them from parliament. It is a guaranteed way to achieve a majority in the parliament.

Since MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, agreed to a coalition government in February, 16 MDC MPs have been charged with crimes, but for some unknown reason not a single member of the Mugabe Zanu-PF party has been charged with anything. To steal in Mugabeland it is not stealing if you are a member of the Zanu-PF. But, if you fail to pick up the litter in the street and happen to be a member of the MDC, you can be assured of a trip to jail, a beating, and back to jail for several months.

The Wizard of Zimbabwe is undoubtedly a wizard when it comes to brutality and oppression.

Lloyd Whitefield, writing in the Zimbabwe Guardian, sharply criticized President Barack Obama for his recent comments on the situation in Africa. In his speech, the president argued that “we must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans.” He also argued the disastrous events in Zimbabwe which have resulted in a wrecked economy and two million refugees in South Africa, can not be blamed on past Western imperialism. “Africans are responsible for Africans.” Whitefield argues Obama is using an argument that he rejects when applied to the lives of African Americans in the United States. The president supports Affirmative Action programs to make up for past mistakes and does not place all blame on African Americans for any problems they currently confront.

In one sense, President Obama is correct that what has happened in Zimbabwe over the past two decades is the result of blunders on the part of President Mugabe rather than western imperialism. But, on the other hand, the president’s argument is rather “simple” in casting all blame on Africans. When African nations obtained their independence, industry was not controlled by Africans, in most places agriculture was controlled by Europeans as was banking and trade. Few African nations enjoyed the benefits of an Affirmative Action program that has been offered to African Americans. Unfortunately, life is rarely “simple,” it is complex and we expect a more reasoned argument from President Obama on such an enormous problem as life in African nations, plus thirty years.

Robert Mugabe tells his fellow African leaders in nations like South Africa that he represents the true spirit of anti-colonialism and therefore whatever he does to his own people must be better than what they endured under colonial rule. After stealing the last presidential election in a manner that President Ahmadinejad of Iran would appreciate, Mugabe allegedly agreed to a coalition government. At recent meeting called to discuss creating a new constitution, opposition leaders tried to speak when they were verbally, and then physically, assaulted by thugs carrying out the orders of Mugabe. Members of the Movement for Democratic Change attempted to speak when they were shouted down by Mugabe burst into revolutionary songs and then physically attacked the opposition.

Mugabe showed up two hours late in what was most probably a planned attempt to let Movement for Democratic Change leaders know who runs the country. He has refused every attempt to work in a cooperative manner with those who do not accept his unitary leadership view for Zimbabwe. Nothing will change until South Africa and other African nations begin to stand up for the people of Africa rather than for old comrades in the liberation movement.

The regime of President Robert Mugabe has been characterized by transforming wealth of the country from the people to a group of thugs and murders who when opposed yell as loud as they can, “we are saving you from colonialism!” The current thievery consists of sending the army and police into diamond mines in the name of “security.” Of course, the “security” they are protecting is the license to steal by members of the Mugabe government, including leaders of the armed forces. A few days ago, the Mugabe government promised to withdraw its forces from the diamond mines, but the current message is we need the police there to maintain law and order. Imagine if legal diamond miners sought the diamonds!!

The Kimberly Process which supervises diamond mining in many areas of Africa says the army and police are guilty of murder, beating and horrific treatment of miners who get in their way. Naturally, the government of neighboring South Africa remains silent as do other democratic African nations. Of course, if European business interests were acting in like manner, the cry of “colonialism” would be heard all over Africa

Robert Mugabe inherited a nation that had among the highest standards of education in Africa and its economy was among the best in the continent. In his reign of stupidity and hate, he has transformed his nation from one of prosperity into a country which has an inflation rate of over 2,000,000% and a completely collapsed school system. Over 90% of the population has no jobs and must exist on handouts from foreign nations. Mugabe termed US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, as “an idiot” when they encountered one another at an African summit meeting in Libya. “You wouldn’t speak to an idiot of that nature. I was very angry with him, and he thinks he could dictate to us what to do.” Mugabe was also insulted that an African American would dare to offer advice to the most incompetent ruler in Africa.

Last year, Carson’s predecessor, Jendayl Frazier, was insulted by Mugabe when he referred to her as “that little girl trotting around the globe like a prostitute.” He also termed former American Ambassador, James Mcghee, as a “house Negro” for white western leaders. The sad aspect of this story is that Mugabe is undoubtedly only skilled in the insult game and completely at loss in the task of creating a viable economy or restoring freedom to the people of his nation.

Among the tragedies of twentieth century Africa is a reluctance on the part of leaders to leave office and allow others to assume leadership of the nation. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is determined to offer a new approach to power –voluntarily surrender power in order to demonstrate that democracy means power changes and life goes on. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has refused to surrender power even though he lost the last presidential election and the result is three million have left the nation and unemployment has now reached a level of 90%. Zenawi will not stand for election again. He comes from the Tigray group which only constitutes six percent of the population and his decision is a message to fellow members of the group that they must expand their scope and join in coalitions if their nation is to prosper and become a democracy.

Now, if Zimbabweans could just get their president for life, Robert Mugabe, to head into the setting sun, the nation might be saved from disaster.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been visiting Europe in search of money and support for his efforts to restore some sanity to the wrecked nation of Zimbabwe. He is attempting to undo the damage of President Mugabe whose inane policies toward farm seizures and giving his friends and cronies land they lacked the ability to farm has resulted in a collapse of the economy. Before a London audience, Tsvangirai urged, “Zimbabweans must come home” and help him work to restore the economy. However, his plea was rejected by most Zimbabweans in the audience who fear returning to a nation ruled by violence and incompetence. They wanted assurances for their own personal safety, but the prime minister lacks the power to even assure one will not be beaten or imprisoned by the thugs who work for Mugabe.

The Catch 22 is Tsvangirai needs the talents of refugees from his homeland, but, while many would like to return, nothing awaits them than a collapsed economy with a 90% unemployment rate and a police and armed forces which resort to brutality if anyone challenges their authority.